Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-13
LONDON, Sept. l2,

the appropriation bill, called attention to the
general policy of the government in Ireland
and especially to the invasion of the rights of
the people respecting the holding of public
meetings.
He demanded that the House be informed
of the nature of the instructions given to the
police IN Ireland regarding the line of action
they are to pursue with respect to public
meetings, and also whether the report is true
that Gen. Sir Redvers Butler has resigned
his post of under secretary for Ireland and
what were the reasons for his resignation.
He claimed that the Irish possessed in
common with the English the right to meet
and denounce the action of the legislative
branch of the government, and declared that
attempts to prevent the holding of meetings
violated the common law and constitution,
were fragrant breach, denial of the funds.
mental principles of both, and were wholly
incompatible with the existence of free
government or the rights of a free people
Some tory journals had suggested that ma
chine guns ought to be used against the Irish
[Cries of 'what paper?"]
est. James Gazette answered the speak
er adding, ''a typical tory organ
| "The most detestable and scandalous Ian
guage was used by the Times" Sir William
went on. "f,r the express purpose of driving
the Irish to revolt, language such as never
before degraded the press of free country,
If the advice of the unionist press had been
followed, what, between machine guns, evic-
tions, and tory landlords soon very few Irish
people would be left.
He was confident that the Irish would per-
sist in the prudence and calmness ALREADY
exhibited If anything was dear to the Eng
lish, it was the right of public meeting, which
the government was now trampling upon
Let the government try the experiment of
their new doctrine upon the people OF Eng
land. The country would make short work
of them. The heart of England was with
the Irish in vindcating the right of public
meeting. and would support them until JUS
tice was done. Meetings must continue to
be held in all parts of ireland. Parnellite
cheers If there was one lesson in the his
tory of politics taught more than another, it
was that cause which could not bear open
discussion, was already lost. Cheers. The
governments dread of public meetings would
seal their Irish policy.
Balfour said that the instructions of the po-
lice were the same as they had received when
Sir William was member of the Gladstone
government Cheers Butler had always
acted in perfect harmony with the present
government His appointment as under sec.
retiry was only temporary. He resigned now
simply because he desired not to delay his
return to the war Office. Cries of ooh, oh, "
from the Parnellites. If any one supposed
that Buffers retirement was due in the slight
est degree to a difference of opinion with
him, the supposition absolutely false.
In referring to Sir Williams contention
th8t the suppression of public meetings was
illegal. Balfour said he did not know at what
period Sir William lost his knowledge of law
but 1t was a matter of history that under the
| lav nf Jrol vi al
acted with Gland,tone and Forster iu pro-
claiming one hundred and thirty meetings.
1t was again and again stated when these
me- tings were proclaimed that the act of 1882
did not contain any new powers. The ques
| ton really was, not whetherthe governments
action was legal. but polite. An important
element to cnnsider was the condition of the
distrist of Ennis, notorious centre of agra
ran crime. 1t was absurd t. describe such
meetings as for free discussion. They were
heralded by placards of an inflammatory ma
ture, and it was obviously their object to de-
| feat the law and foster outrages and intimi.
dation. 1t has been clearly ascertsined that
the action of the police at Mitchellstown was
in the face of extreme provocation. [Cries
of 'soh, OH The police were assaulted
with stones and blackthorn sticks before they
drew their batons. Cries of "no, no, hear,
hear" 1t was not till they were thrown in
to disorder by charge of horsemen which
knocked down and wounded a number and
forced the rest to fly for their lives, that the
police fred. 1t was absolutely necessary for
them to fire to protect the barracks and the
unfortunate police in their struggles outside.
[Cries of ''oh, oh, and cheers The firing
wss not the random firing of men in panic,
but deliberate act under order of the CON-
manding officers.
He maintained that the conduct of the po-
lice was amply justified and that they we're
in no way to blame, the sole responsibility
resting upon those who convoked the meet
ing. TCheers.1 Sir William had on his lips
the words liberty. justice and free speech,
but the actual weapons he and his friends
used in the Irish contest were obstruction in
Parliament and resistance to the law, outside
of violence and intimidation worse than vio-
lence. Cheers. Did the opposition mean
TO further infame the passions of the Irish
driving them into resistance to the law of
! liberty, founded upon an order that was once
dear to both parties in state.
Labouchere said he saw all that occurred
at Mitchellstown. Stringent orders had been
given the people by the leaders to avoid
disturbance and when they assembled in the
market place Dillon advised that the pro-
ceedings be short as possible with view to
avoiding disorder. There was no objection
to the presence of the government reporter,
but the police could not force him through
the densely packed crowd and were driven
back upon the reserve. They then advanced
to assault the crowd. The sffrsy was begun
by constable drawing his sword and wound
ing horse. Not at any moment were there
more than fifty people fighting the police.
There were women and children in the
crowd. The men had perfect right to re-
sist the attack. When the police fred there
was no danger of any being attacked either
inside OF outside the barracks. The police
acted like wild beasts, battering people with
out mercy. The chief showed deliberate
intention to break up the meeting.
Labouchere held that the chief constable
and resident magistrate were responsible and
accused them of deliberate murder. Loud
cheers.
Gladstone, rising, loudly cheered.
He said it was natural that the debate
should be mainly directed to the Mltchells-
town outrage. Sir William Vernon Hsr-
court has performed public service in draw
ing attention to the Ennis meeting.
Balfour declared that the government
would persevere in its endeavor to tranquil
ize Ireland by 3 firm administration of the
law, by the removal, not of grievances-there
were none. Laughter.
| Balfour interposed, Injustice was my
word"
4 ~